Sheet-feeding apparatus



Filed June 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR MW BY AZL-LATTORNEYS April 7, 1931. A. WORMSER SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A'pfil 7, 931. A. WORMSER ,19 997- SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR 4 ATTORNEYS Apr 1931- A. woRMsER 1,799,997 1 r v v SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June-18; 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MAM-1M BY 3 Z .4 ATTORNEYS Filed June l8, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR )n A21 W BY M /A1 ATTORNEYS April 7, 1931.

A.- WORMSER 7 1,799,997

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Fi1ed'June'l8, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 N m i g *4 l 1 R m N INVENTOR WM BY i1; ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 7. 1931 aamea waitress-a. or oraemaciieamaiiam, GERMANY SHEET-FEEDING ArrARA'rUs Application filed June 18, 1929, Serial No. 371,898, and in Germany July 9', 1928.

and flex the group of sheets in the direction.

- of travel. 7

Another object is to provide an apparatus includingmeans for alternately gripping and daring a group of sheets, and mechanism for holding the group of sheets when the flexing p ;mea'ns is released. i A Another object is to provide an apparatus including mechanism for holding a group of sheets, said mechanism heingarranged to be reciproc'ated tomove the overlapped group of sheets forwardly. I W

Another object is to provide an apparatus having flexing means including oppositely disposed jaws movable toward and away from each other and disposed to he oscillated .When in their closed position, at least one of said jaws being arranged to be movedwhen in an open position toward and away from the group ofshee'ts.

Another object is to provide certain im- 'provements in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts, whereby the above named and other objects may efi'e'ctively be attained.

A practical embodiment 01" my invention is. represented in the accompanying drawings,

in which V 1 represents a detail side ehavati'en partly in section, of a machine having my improved sheet feeding apparatus applied thereto. I

Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the same: p v

Fig. 3 represents a detail side elevation, on a larger scale, of the sheet separating and fieiting Insane and adjacent operating mechanisin located at the rear end and adjacent the pile of sheets to be fed. v Fig. 4 represents" a rear elevation of the n Fig. 5 represents a detail vertical section of one of the sheet feeding and flexing means disposed at the forward end of a group of,

sheets. I v

Fig. 6 represents a detail rear elevation of the same. 1 T

F 7 represents a vertical section taken in the plane of the line VIIf-VII of Fig. 5, loelring in the direction of the arrows. I

Fig. 8 represents a horizontal section taken the plane of the line VIIIVIII- of Fig. 3, looking in the directionof the arrows.

9 represents a vertical section takenin the plane of the line- IX-IX of Fig. 3 looking-in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 represents a diagrammatical view of the separating and flexing means and the operating mechanism. j

Fig. 11 represents diagrammatically a pile of sheets showing the position the sheets will occupy with respect to each other, and I ,Fig. 12 represents diagrammatically the sheet feedin and flexing means together with their operating mechanism.

The side frames of the machine are denoted by 1, 2, in which frames oppositely disposed carriagesfi, 8 may be adjusted horizontally and vertically. Each carriage is slidably mounted on horizontally arranged bars 4,- 5, the outer ends of Which are secured adjustahly in the frames 1, 2 to accommodate different lengths of sheets. The vertical adjustment of the carriage is obtained through a yoke 6 slidahly mounted on the bars 4, 5 and having" rotatively secured therein a nut 7, Which hasa screw-threaded engagement with a stud 8 fast on the carriage; A hand wheel 9 is fixed to the nut 7 j and serves to rotate the nut on the stud and thereby raise or lower the.

carriage. A series of rods 10 uprise from the carriage and extend through the yoke 6 to guide the carriage when being moved. 1

Each carriage is provided with depending frames 11, 12', between which is mounted a flexing means and its operating mechanism. This flexing means comprises a member 13 arranged to rock on the pivot 14 journaled in the frames 11, 12. A bell crank lever 15 is pivoted to slide on the shaft 16 journaled in the member 13, one end of which lever 15 is provided with a jaw 17, while the other end has a weight 18 vertically slidable therein, the function of which will be hereinafter explained. A spring 19 is secured between the carriage and lever 15 to keep the weight 18 normally out of operation and the jaw 17 in contact with the group of sheets.

The member 13 is also provided with a aw 20, which is arranged to coact with the jaw 17 on the lever 15. The upper and lower jaws 17 and 20 respectively, are arranged to be brought into coactive relation upon a group of sheets by means of a cam 21 mounted on a shaft 22, journaled in the frames 11,12 of the carriage, which cam is arranged to actuate an arm 23, having a hub 24 mounted to rock on a stud 25 fast on the frame 12. Another arm 26 mounted on the hub 21-. is connected to a lug 27 on the member 13 through a link 28. The lever 15 is rocked with its shaft 16 by means of a cam 29 carried by the shaft 22, which cam is arranged to be engaged by one end of a lever 30 fulcrumed at 31, while the other end of the lever actuates an arm 32 mounted on the pivot 14 through a link 33. This arm 32 has projection 34 arranged to be brought into contact with a truck roller carried by an arm 35 fast on the shaft 16. Thus it will be seen that as the arm 35 is raised by the projection 34 on the arm 32, the lever 15 on the shaft 16 will be rocket against the tension of the spring 19, thereby lifting the upper jaw 17 away from the group of sheets while the weight 18 will be brought into contact with the group of sheets and rest thereon, as shown in Fig. 10.

The lower jaw 20 is arranged to be moved laterally in the member 13 so as to be withdrawn from beneath the group of sheets when one or more sheets are to be added to the group. The lower jaw 20 is mounted to slide in a channel 36 in the member 13, and is actuated by means of face cam 37 mounted on the shaft 22. A lever 38 is arranged to rock on a stud 39 carried by a lug 40, extending laterally from the frame 12. One end 41 of this lever 38 has a truth roller 42 arranged to engage the face of the cam 37, while the other end 43 of the lever 38 is provided with a pin 44 disposed in position to engage an elongated slot 45 in the outer end of the jaw 20. This pin 44 is arranged to extend through the slot 45 and above the jaw 20 so that when the jaw is oscillated it will not be lifted from its engagement with the pin.

The ends of the sheets are raised from the pile by any well known or approved means, in the present instance, I have shown rotating fingers 46 mounted on the shaft 47 journaled in the frame 11, which fingers are arranged to be brought into engagement with the rear edges of the sheets of the pile so to lift the sheets to a position where they will be brought into association with the group of sheets by the laterally movable jaw 20.

It will be understood from the foregoing that a carriage having similar means for separating and flexing a group of sheets will be disposed on each side and at the rear edges of the sheets taken from the pile.

Feeding and flexing means are disposed toward the front portion of a group of sheets, in which one flexing means is shown and comprises a holder 48 having a shaft 49 journaled in the main frame 1. Shafts 50, 51 are mounted to oscillate in the holder 48 and are arranged to rock in unison by means of toothed sectors 52, 53, of which the sector 52 is fixed to the shaft 50, while the sector 53 is mounted to rock freely on the shaft 51. An arm 54 is splined to the shaft and is connected to the upper gripper jaw 55 by means of a link 56. This gripper jaw 55 is arranged to slide vertically on a bar 57, the upper end of which is secured in an arm 58, while the lower end is fastened in an arm 59. The arms 58, 59 are carried by a bracket 60 mounted on the shafts 50, 51.

The lower gripper jaw 61 is fixed to an arm 62 splined on the shaft 51. The adjustment of the upper and lower jaws is controlled and operated by means of a worm 63 and rack 64, of which the worm is mounted in bearings 65 carried by an arm 66 mounted to rock on the hub of an arm 69 carried by the shaft 51, while the rack 4 is fixed to the hub 67 of the toothed sector The worm 63 is manipulated by means of a knurled thumb piece 68. The arm 66 is yieldingly connected to an arm 69 by means of a spring 70, which arm 69 is pinned to the shaft 51. An arm 71, formed integral with the arm 69, is connected with one arm 72 of a bell crank lever 73 fast on a shaft 74, by means of a link 75. The other arm 76 of the bell crank lever 73 carries a roller, which is held in Contact with a cam 77 fast on the shaft 78, by a spring 79, one end of which is secured to the frame 1, while the other end is fixed to the arm 72 of the bell crank lever 73. Thus it will be seen that the lower jaw 61 is brought into and out of contact with the group of sheets through the cam 77, bell crank lever 73, arms 71, 69 on the shaft 51, spring 70, lever 66, which rocks the toothed sector 53, which in turn moves the meshing toothed sector 52 and hence the shaft 50, and the arm 54 splined on the shaft 50 being connected to the upper gripper jaw 55 by the link 56, moves the vertically.

The upper and lower jaws are oscillated by the movement of the holder 48, which with the sector movement is accomplished by means of a cam fast on the shaft 81 arranged to actuate a lever 82 fixed on the shaft 83, one end 84 of which lever carries a roller for contact with the cam 80, while the other end 85 is connected to the holder at 86 through a link One of the means for feeding the sheets forwardly is shown in the drawings and comprises a bearing 88 arranged to slide horizontally in an upper guide 89 and a lower guide 90, both of which guides are fixed to the frame 1. Shafts 91, 92 are journaled in the bearing 88 and arranged to rock simultaneously by means of toothed sectors 93, 94, of which the sector 93 is pinned to the shaft 91, while the sector 94 is free to rock on the shaft An arm 95 is splined to the shaft 91 and is connected to an upper gripper aw 96 through a link 97. This upper gripper jaw 96 is disposed to slide vertically on a bar 98 fixed in arms 99, 100 of a bracket 101, which is carried by the shafts 91, 92.

A lower jaw 96* is fixed to an arm 92* splined on the shaft 92.

The adjustment of the jaws 96 and 96* is compensated for by means of a worm 102 carried in bearings 103 fixed upon an arm 104, which is mounted to rock on the hub of an arm 107 pinned to the shaft 92. This worm 102 coacts with a rack 105 secured to the hub of the sector 94 and is manipulated by means of a knurled thumb nut 106. The arm 107 is yieldingly connected to the arm 104 by means-of a spring 108. The arm 107 has formed integral therewith an arm 109, which is coupled to one arm 110 of a bell crank lever mounted on the shaft 74 by a link 111. The other arm 112 of the bell crank lever carries a roller adapted to engage the cam 77. A spring 113 is connected between the arm 110 and frame 1 to hold the roller in Contact with the cam 77. Thus the raising or lowering of the gripper awsand thereby alternately releasing or gripping the group of sheets is accomplished through the cam 77, arms 1 12, 110 of the bell crank lever, link 111, arms 109, 107, spring 108, lever 104, sector 94 carried thereby, which sector 94 coacts 93 and rocks the shaft 91, which in turn moves the arm 95 fast on the shaft 91, which moves the gripper jaw 96 through its link 97.

The bearing 88 and its gripper mechanism is reciprocated in the guides 89, 90 by means of a cam 114 fast on a shaft 115, which cam is arranged to be engaged by a roller on one end 116 of a lever 11'. keyed to a shaft 118. The other end 119 of the lever 117 is connected to one arm 120 of a bell crank lever 121 fixed on a shaft 122, by a link 123, while the other arm 124 is coupled to the bearing 88 through a link 125 pivoted to an eye 126 carried by the bearing 88 V Y The several mechanisms are driven from 'of sheets held between the a main drive shaft 127, which has mounted thereon spiral gears 128, 129, 130. The gear 128 meshes with the spiral gear 131 fast on the shaft 81 which carries the cam 80, thereby actuating the holder 48 of the flexing means. The separating and flexing means upon the carriage 3 is controlled and operated by the shaft 81 through a bevel gear 132 fast thereon, which meshes with a bevel gear 133 carried by a vertically mounted shaft 134 supported in lower and upper brackets 135, 136 respectively. A bevel gear 137 is' fixed to the upper end of the shaft 134 and rotated to mesh with a bevel gear 138 secured to a flexible and telescoping shaft 139. This flexible telescoping shaft 139 has one end journaled in the bracket 136, while the other end is mounted in a bearing 140 carried by the carriage 3. A bevel gear 141 is mounted on the end of the shaft 139 and meshes with a bevel gear 142 fast on a shaft 143 journaled in the frames 11, 12 of the carriage 3. A spurgear 144 fast on the shaft 143 meshes with a spur gear 145 fast on the shaft 22 and thereby transmits motion to the cam 21, which in turn actuates the levers 23, 26 link 28 and lug 27 on the member 13, which is oscillated on its pivot and flexes the group jaws 17,20. As the shaft 22 is rotated, the cam 29 will also actuate its coacting lever 30, link 33, arm 32 carrying the projection 34, which will be caused to en age the arm 35v and rock the lever 15 on its shaft 16 and lift the gripper 17 from the group of sheets. As the gripper 17 is lifted, the lever 15 will move the weight 18 downwardly into contact with the group of sheets and hold the same against movement. Likewise, the rotation of the shaft 22 will move the cam 37, which actuates the lever 38 and causes the pin 44 on the end 43 thereof to slide the jaw 20 laterally in the channel 36 of the member 13 and from be-' neath the group of sheets.

The fingers 46 for separating and lifting the rear edges of the sheets from the pile are rotated by a spur gear 146 fast on the shaft 143, which gear drives a train of gears 147, 148, 149, of which the gear 149 is fast on the shaft 47' upon which the fingers 46 are mounted.

While I have described the means for driv- ,ing the different parts contained in one carriage, it is to be understood that the similar mechanism in the opposite carriage is also driven from the vertical shaft 134 through bevel gears 150, 151, 152, 153 and a similar flexible telescoping shaft 154. The spiral gear 129 meshes with a spiral gear 155 fast on the shaft 78, and is arranged to transmit motion to the cam 77 which actuates the bell crank lever 73 which raises the upper gripper jaw 55 through the link 75, arms 71, 69, spring 70, arm 66, sectors 53, 52, shaft 50 and arm 54 which moves the link 56 connected with the jaw 55. The movement of the cam 77 also actuates the arms 112, 110, link 111, arms 109, 107, spring 108, arm 104, sectors 94:, 93, shaft 91 which carries the arm 95, having the link 97 connected to the upper gripper 96.

The operating surface of the cam 77 and the position of the levers 76, 112, which contact with the surface of the cam, is such that while the grippers 55 and 61 are moved away from the group of sheets, the grippers 96 and 96* are brought into engagement with the group of sheets and vice versa.

The spiral gear 130 meshes with the spiral gear 156 fixed on the shaft 115 which carries the cam 114 for reciprocating the bearing 88 and hence the grippers 96, 96*. Motion is transmitted from the cam 11 1 to the lever 117 through the link 123, bell crank lever 121, and link 125, which is pivoted to the eye 126 carried by the bearing.

This apparatus is designed to tier; a group of sheets in the direction of travel to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, so that one sheet at a time may be readily taken or presented to grippers or other mechanism of a. printing machine (not shown). The paper to be fed is disposed in a pile 157, which is carried by a platform 158. This platform is preferably inclined and arranged to be progressively elevated as the sheets are taken from the top of the pile in any well mown or approved manner. T he front edges of the pile of sheets rest against a guide 159, the upper portion of which is curved at 160 and developed into a table 161. The surface of the table 161 is curved and takes the form generally of a parabola, as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

A. predetermined number of sheets is selected from the top of the )ile and the rear edges of the selected group of sheets held in a separated position by the fingers 46, after which the lower jaw 20 of the member 13 is moved laterally so as to be inserted in the space between the selected group of sheets and the pile. A jaw 17 is now brought into contact with the group of sheets so that they will be held securely therebetween and the member 13 carrying the jaws 17, 20 rocked in a forward direction, whereupon the cam 29 will actuate its levers to release the upper jaw, while in its forward position. Simultaneously the weight 18 is brought to bear upon the sheets and hold the same against movement in a. rearward direction shown in Fig. 10. Thus the group of sheets will be moved in the direction of travel and the sheets caused to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation. The member 13 is now returned to its normal position, and the above described operation repeated.

The group of sheets are again flexed by means of the jaws 55, 61 on the holder 48, in which case the jaws 55, 61 are brought to a position to hold the group of sheets securely therebetween. The holder 48 is now rocked on its shaft 49 so as to bend the group of sheets forwardly, in which position the grippers 96, 96* on the horizontally movable hearing 88 are brought to their closed position upon the group of sheets and the jaws 55, 61 released. lVhen the gripper jaws 55, 61 are released, the cam 114 is actuated to operate its coacting mechanisms so as to move the group of sheets held by the gripper 96, 96* forwardly. Simultaneously the gripper jaws 55, 61 are returned to their normal position, after which the grippers 96, 96* are released and the several operations repeated.

It is obvious that various changes may be resorted to in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence I do not intend to be limited to the details herein shown and described except as they may be included in the claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for gripping and flexing a group of sheets forwardly in the direction of travel to cause the sheets to slide substantially in a right line and progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation.

2. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing a group of sheets to cause the sheets to slide substantially in a right line and progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation.

3. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for alternately gripping and flexing a group of sheets, mechanism for holding said group of sheets in the flexed position, and devices for releasing said gripping means to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation.

4. A. sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing a group of sheets to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for moving said gripping means to feed the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

5. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing a group of sheets, mechanism for holding said group of sheets in the flexed position, devices for releasing said gripping means to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for moving said holding mecha nism to feed the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

6. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing a group of sheets to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for reciprocating said gripping means to feed the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

7. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing a group of sheets, mechanism for holding said group of sheets in the flexed position, devices for releasing said gripping means to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for reciprocating said holding mechanism to feed the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

8. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for flexing a group of sheets in the direction of travel, said means including movable jaws disposed to be brought into and out of contact with the group of sheets and ar ranged to be oscillated, when closed, to flex the group of sheets to cause them to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation.

9. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for flexing a group of sheets in the direction of travel, said means including movable jaws disposed to be brought into and out of contact with the group of sheets and arranged to be oscillated, when closed, to flex the group of sheets to cause them to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for moving the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

10. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for flexing a group of sheets in the direction of travel, said means including mov able jaws disposed to be brought into and out of contact with the group of sheets and arranged to be oscillated, when closed, to flex the group of sheets to cause them to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and reciprocating means for moving the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

11. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for separating the rear edges of a group of sheets from a pile, and means for flexing said group of sheets forwardly in the direction of travel to cause the sheets to slide substantially in a right line and progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation.

12. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for separating the. rear edges of a group of sheets from a pile, and means for gripping and flexing said group of sheets forwardly in the direction of travel to cause the sheets to slide substantially in a right line and progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation.

13. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for separating the rear edges of a group of sheets from a pile, and means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing said group of sheets to cause the sheetsto slide substantially in a right line and progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation.

14. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for separating the rear edges of a group of sheets froma pile, means for alternately gripping-and flexing said group .or sheets, mech anisn'i for holding the group of sheets in the flexed position, and devices for releasing said gripping aneans to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation.

15. A sheet feeding apparatus compris ing, means for separating the rear edges ,of agroup of sheets from .a pile, means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing said group of sheets the direction of travel to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for moving said gripping means to feed the overlapped group .of sheets forwardly. p 16. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for separating the rear edges of a group of sheets from a pile, means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing said group of sheets in the direction of'tra-vel, mechanism for holding the group ofsheets in the flexed position, devices for releasing said gripping mechanism to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for moving said holding mechanism tofeed the overlapped. group of sheets forwardly.

17. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for separating the rear edges of a group of sheets from a pile, means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing said group of sheets in the direction of travel to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for reciprocating said gripping means to feed the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

18. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for separating the rear edges of a group of sheets from a pile, means for alternately gripping, flexing and releasing said group of sheets in the direction of travel, mechanism for holding the group of sheets in the flexed position, devices for releasing said gripping mechanism to cause the sheets to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for reciprocating said holding mechanism to feed the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

19. A sheet feeding apparatus compris ing, means for separating the rear edges of a group of sheets from a pile, means for flexing said group of sheets in the direction of travel, said means including movable jaws disposed to be brought into and out of contact with the group of sheets and arranged to be oscillated, when closed, to flex the group of sheets to cause them to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation.

20. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for separating the rear edges of a i group of sheets from a pile, means for flexing said group of sheets in the direction of travel, said means including movable jaws disposed to be brought into and out of contact with the group of sheets and arranged to be oscillated, when closed, to flex the group of sheets to cause them to slide progressively one upon the other in overlapped relation, and means for moving the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

21. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising, means for separating the rear edges of a group of sheets from a pile, means for flexing said group of sheets in the direction of 15 travel, said means including movable jaws disposed to be brought into and out of contact With the group of sheets and arranged to be oscillated, When closed, to flex the group of sheets to cause them to slide progressively 90 one upon the other in overlapped relation, and reciprocating means for moving the overlapped group of sheets forwardly.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this 6th day of June, 1929.

ARTHUR WORMSER. 

